The law, signed by Republican Gov. John Kasich Thursday night, will be in effect for his re-election campaign next year, prompting some to call it the "Kasich Re-Election Act." State Rep. Gary Scherer, R-Circleville, and State Sen. Bob Peterson, R-Sabina, supported the bill.

To be fair, past Ohio eligibility laws were deemed unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court in 2006, leaving the Secretary of State as ballot gatekeeper without clear authority. So, we understand the desire for a clear law while disagreeing strongly with the terms of the GOP's latest power grab.

To get candidates on the ballot for governor next year, minority parties will have to get signatures equal to 0.5 percent of the total votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial or presidential election - about 28,000. If they don't earn 2 percent of the vote next fall, they have to repeat the signature process for the next election.

That requirement might be understandable, but in 2015 the requirement increases to 1 percent for petition signatures and 3 percent of the vote, which likely forces third parties into never-ending and time consuming efforts just to appear on the ballot, let alone campaign for support.

Some might suggest any party that can't earn 3 percent of the vote doesn't deserve to be on the ballot. But in America where we believe in a free and open democracy fueled by open elections, it's troubling to see parties of considerable power making it tougher for them to be challenged.

It's also worth noting that Ohio's new rules are tougher than those in many states. None of our neighboring states require minor parties to get 3 percent of the vote. West Virginia and Michigan only require candidates to earn 1 percent.

With both Republicans and Democrats consistently showing they can't govern without an eye on their own political fortunes, there's likely to be more interest in third party and independent candidates than in many years. Giving voters fewer options only makes sense to the political bosses.

It's just another troubling example of what's wrong in America and Ohio.

What happened to government by the people for the people?

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Ohio GOP doesn't want to give you choices

If you need more evidence that our country's two leading political parties care about little more than keeping themselves in power, we refer you to the latest example from the Ohio Statehouse.